Institute of Law, Nirma University organised an International Symposium on Electoral Transparency: Political Parties as Concurrent Auditors on July 21, 2026. The symposium was organised in collaboration with the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) and other partner institutions.
The international symposium was attended by Shri Sandeep Sagale, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Gujarat; Shri Naveen Mahajan, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Rajasthan; Shri. Pravin Chaudhury, Collector, Anand; Shri K. K. Patel, Vice President, Nirma University; Dr. Madhuri Parikh, Director and Dean ILNU; representatives of the election administration from Chhattisgarh; and delegates from the election management community of the Philippines. The event witnessed the participation of Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, academicians, researchers, legal experts from leading law universities across the country, and officials associated with election management.
The central theme of the symposium was that political parties are not merely contestants in elections but also serve as key stakeholders and observers throughout the electoral process. From the preparation of electoral rolls to polling, counting of votes, and declaration of results, authorised representatives and agents of political parties play a significant role in continuously observing and verifying electoral procedures. In this context, the symposium deliberated on understanding and strengthening the role of political parties as “Concurrent Auditors”—stakeholders who undertake continuous and parallel scrutiny of the electoral process.
The symposium featured in-depth discussions across five thematic sessions, focusing on:
The use of technology in election management continues to expand in modern democracies. Electronic voting systems, digital electoral rolls, result management systems, and data-driven election processes have created new opportunities for efficient election administration while simultaneously introducing challenges related to auditability, cybersecurity, and public confidence. In this evolving landscape, dialogue and exchange of experiences among election management bodies, political parties, legal experts, academicians, and other stakeholders have become increasingly important.
With participation from representatives of various Indian States and international delegates, the symposium will provide a common platform to examine different models and practical experiences related to electoral transparency. In particular, the international perspectives shared by delegates from the Philippines, the practical experiences of election officials from different States, and the academic and legal insights contributed by leading law universities will enrich discussions on strengthening transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The symposium had been designed to facilitate meaningful interaction and knowledge exchange among subject experts and participants. Following the inaugural session, five parallel thematic tracks will be conducted, culminating in a concluding plenary session at the end of the day. The symposium will be held at the Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad.
The ideas, experiences, and recommendations emerging from the symposium are expected to contribute towards a deeper understanding of existing mechanisms for electoral transparency, identification of emerging challenges and opportunities, documentation of best practices from diverse electoral systems, and the development of evidence-based policy recommendations. The deliberations are expected to make a significant contribution towards further strengthening transparency, accountability, and public trust in the electoral process.